Optimal health starts with your gut! FAQs about stool testing, assessing your microbiome’s balance

Stool Test For Gut Health Near Me Larchmont NY Area

Like every surface of your body, the lining of your digestive tract supports a “community” that you cannot see – a microecosystem of bacteria and other microorganisms. This tiny ecosystem of sorts is referred to as a “microbiome.” As it relates to your “gut” inside the intestines, the trillions of viruses, fungi, bacteria, and microbes interact with the other systems of the body. They can either help or hinder its functioning. For those individuals looking for “solutions to digestive and other problems near me in Larchmont, New York,” a stool test is one of many diagnostic services at the Connecticut Center for Integrative Medicine.

Why does the gut microbiome matter so much?

Balance is healthy and important. We have a symbiotic relationship with the microorganisms that make up this microecosystem. The “good” microbes help to keep the “bad” ones in check. Think of this relationship as a garden; it thrives when the soil is healthy and not overrun by pests or weeds. When soils are depleted, and invasive species and critters overtake the native plants, the whole garden suffers. Your body is like this. There must be a healthy and balanced microbiome to prevent upset of your whole “system,” organs near the gut and distant from it.

What makes a gut microbiome unbalanced?

This condition is actually referred to as “dysbiosis.” An unhealthy or poorly balanced microbiome, or dysbiosis, arises from a loss or shortfall in the good bacteria. Likewise, it can occur due to an overgrowth of potentially disease-causing or bad bacteria. Lastly, dysbiosis may develop due to an overall loss of bacterial diversity. There can be a cascade effect, with the loss of beneficial bacteria leaving the gut susceptible to an overgrowth of pathogenic or invasive microorganisms. They can overrun other members of this microecosystem, reducing the overall diversity of microorganisms in your digestive tract.

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What are some signs of dysbiosis?

Gut-related signs range from excessive flatulence or gas, diarrhea, and constipation to digestive impairment, abdominal pain, and bloating. Certain conditions are also directly related to dysbiosis, including ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and other types of inflammatory bowel disease. Due to how the microbiome interacts with different parts of the body, symptoms of dysbiosis can transcend the digestive system. They also impact everything from the immune system to the nervous system function. Similarly, other conditions associated with gut-related imbalances include autoimmune diseases like MS and mental health conditions such as anxiety disorders and depression.

What does a stool test do?

Diagnostic services are very important at the Connecticut Center for Integrative Medicine. So much of what we do and recommend involves understanding the true nature and source of our patients’ concerns and what motivates them to reach out to our team in Stamford, Connecticut, in the first place. We can advise on how to collect a small sample, which is then analyzed to provide insights into the composition or microorganisms and the overall health and balance of your microbiome. Our center takes a broad-based approach to stool testing when evaluating and assessing imbalances or dysbiosis. We take an equally broad-based approach to treatments as a true integrative center. With insights garnered at least partly from the results of your test, we can then recommend appropriate interventions to bring your gut back into balance. And when your gut is in balance, the rest of you feels better, too!

We encourage our friends in the Larchmont, NY, area to contact us today at (866) 320-6402 with more specific questions. We are here to help and are the first step in this journey to optimal health and well-being through integrative medicine.

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Connecticut Center for Integrative Medicine is a multi-disciplinary team of providers that work collaboratively to assist you on your healthcare journey. Taking a truly holistic approach that honors your unique needs, the team will work with you to get you sustainably well.

Dr. Robert Kachko, Founder and Director of the Connecticut Center for Integrative Medicine, is a pioneer in Naturopathic and Integrative Medicine and has developed an extensive bio-psychosocial methodology for people living with chronic diseases. As Past President of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, Dr. Kachko advocates for healthcare reform to allow everyone access to the kind of care our clinic provides.